Display rack



D May 11 ,1926. A I 1,583,943

v G H. UHLER DISPLAY RACK Filed Jan. 5, i925 with theinvention.

Patented May 11, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. UHLER, OF MARION, OHIO.

DISPLAY RACK.

App1icat1on filed January 5, 1923.

This invention is a device for conveniently displaying rugs and 3111111311" heavy fabrics.

In displaying heavy fabrics, such as rugs and the like, for sale, it is customary to place them fiat, one upon the other, upon a-suitable platform, or else to suspend them from overhanging swinging supports. The first method has the advantage of displaying the rugs in a minimum space and in a position in which the customer may inspect the whole rug, but it is open to the objection that the rugs must be lifted off or folded back, one at a time, in order that a customer may view them all. The second method has theadvantage of permitting each rug to be brought to view with little labor, but is open to the objection that much more expensive apparatus is necessary than'in the first method,

overhead space is required, and the entire rug may not be closely inspected unless taken down and placed upon the floor of the salesroom.

One of the objects of the invention is to overcome the foregoing diificulties, by pro-- by any number of superposed rugs may be, conveniently folded back to permit of the inspection of any selected rug in the pile. A further object is to provide a display rack having means so constructed that the weight of the rugs which have been folded back, will be utilized to retain them in their new position relative to the rest of the rugs remaining in the original pile. A further object is to provide convenient storage space for rugs which have been removed from the pile and rolled, preparatory to delivery to a purchaser.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a display rack constructed in accordance Figure 2 is a detail view illustrating the crank shaft bearing and rack guide. I

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a base constructed of any suitable material, on which is mounted. the main support 111. Said main support is preferably 1 Serial No. 610,825.

proximate inverted V-shape, constructed with sloping top walls converging to a line located above the middle of the base, and it cooperates with said base to provide a substantial storage space 12. As shown, the main support consists of a suitable frame, provided with a covering forming the sloping top walls.

Movably mounted with relation to the main frame is a supplemental frame, consisting of end bars 13, pivoted at their lower ends to'the lower portion of one of the sloping top walls of the main frame. The pivotal connections may be made in any desired manner, for instance, by means of hinges 14. The upper ends of the bars 13 are connected by a cross piece 15.

Pivotally connected at one end to the re spective end bars 13, are toothed rack bars 16, having their free ends mounted in and guided by guide members 17 secured to the main support 11. An operating shaft 18, extending under one of the sloping top walls of the main support 11, within the space 12, is mounted in suitable bearings 19, secured to said main support. Said shaft is provided with toothed pinions 20, meshing with the teeth of the rack bars 16. A crank handle 21 is provided for rotating said shaft.

In practice, the rugs, illustrated in dotted lines, are piled one upon the other,upon the main support, as shown in Figure 1, the supplemental support normally lying against the topmost rug. In displaying the rugs to a customer, the salesman folds them, one at a time, over the supplemental support in superposed relation, until a rug is reached which the customer desires to inspect more closely. The salesman then rotates the shaft 18, by means of the crank'21, in a direction to cause the racks 16 to move the supplemental support, with the rugs folded thereover, away from the main support to the position illustrated in Figure 1, movement of the racks being limited by stops 17*. In this position the weight ofthe rugs on' the supplemental support tends tohold the lat ter away from the main support, and the entire surface of the topmost rug upon the latter is exposed to View. If, after the customer inspects the rug, a sale is made, the desired rug is removed, and the shaft 18 is operated to bring the supplemental support back to its normal position against the main support. The folded rugs are then turned back and replaced upon said main support, the selected rug having been rolled and placed in the space 12. If a sale is not made .and the customer desires to examine the rest of the rugs, the supplemental frame, carrying the folded rugs, is moved back to its normal position against the main support,- so.

in the pile. The device is so arranged that.

the weight of the folded rugs is utilized to retain the supplemental support in its adjusted position. After the rug has been removed from the main support it may be rolled and placed within the storage space 12, until a convenient time of delivery;

Having thus explained the nature of the invention, and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may bemade, or all of the forms of its use, what is, claimed is:-

1. A display rack comprising a mainsupport upon which a plurality of rugs may be flatly spread out in ,a pile, asupplemental support movably connected with the main support contiguous to the bottom thereof and adapted to normally rest by gravity upon the topmost rug of the pile in such a position that any number of said rugs from the top down may be folded backwardly over it, and means connected with the supplementa] support for moving it with respect to the main support so as to remove the folded over rugs to expose the topmost one of the rugs remaining on the main support.

2. A display rack comprising a main support constructed with downwardly and out \vardly diverging top walls upon which a plurality of rugs may be flatly spread out in a pile, a supplemental support movably connected with one of said top walls contiguous to the bottom thereof and adapted to normally rest by gravity upon the topmost rug of the pile in such a position that any number of said rugs from the top down may be folded backwardly over it, and means connected with the supplemental support for moving it with respect to the main support so as to remove the folded over rugs and wholly expose the topmost one of the rugs remaining on the main support.

3. A display rack comprising a main sup port upon which a plurality of rugs may. be flatly spread out in a pile, said support being provided with a storage space, a supplemen tal support movably connected withthe main support contiguous to the bottom thereof and normally resting by gravity on the topmost rug of the pilein such aposition that any number of said rugs fromthe top down may-be folded backwa-rdly over it, and means connected withthe supplemental support for moving it with respect to the main support soaas to remove the folded over rugs and wholly expose the topmost one of the rugs remaining on the main support.

4. A display rack comprising a main support upon which a plurality of rugs may be flatly spread out in a pile, a supplemental support movably connected with the main support contiguous to the bottom thereof and adapted to normally rest by gravity upon the topmost rug of the pile in sucha position that any number-of said rugs from the top down maybe foldedbackwardly over it, actuating .arms connected with said supplemental support, and means for operating said actuatingarms so as to move the supplemental. support with respect to the main support whereby the folded'overrugs are removed and the topmost one of the rugs remaining onthe main support is wholly exposed.

5. A display rack comprisinga main support uponwhich a plurality of rugs maybe flatly spread out in'a pile, a supplemental support movably connected with the main support contiguous to the bottom thereof and adapted to normally rest by' gravity upon the topmost rug of the pile in such a position that any number of said rugs from the top down may -befolded backwardly over it, rack bars pivotally connected with the supplemental support, an operating shaft, and pinions on the operating shaft engaging-said rack bars. 7

i 6; A displayrack comprising a main support upon which a plurality of rugs may be flatly spread out in a pile, a supplemental support -1novably connected with the main support contiguous to the bottom thereofand adapted to normal-1y rest by gravity upon the topmost rug of the pile in such-a position that any number ofsaid rugs from the top down may be folded backwardly over it, rack bars pivotally connected with the supplemental support, an operating shaft, and pinionson the operating shaft engagingsaid rack bars, rackbar guide members secured to the main support. and bearings for the operating shaft made integral with the guide members.

7. A display rack comprising a main support havingdownwardly and outwardly diverging top walls upon which-a plurality of rugs may be flatly spread. out in a pile, a supplemental support movably connected with the main support contiguous to the bottom thereof and adapted to normally rest by gravity on the topmost rug; of the pile in such a position that any number of said rugs from the top down may be folded backward the folded over rugs and wholly expose the ly over it, a shaft extending beneath said topmost one of the pile remaining on the main support member and supported by the main support. 1 letter, and meens oonnected With the sup- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5 plementel support and actuated by said shaft my hand.

for moving the supplemental support With respect to the main support so as to move GEORGE H. UHLER. 

